Academic Load Values in Workday

On a student’s academic record, each semester of enrollment lists two load values:

• Institutional Load
• FA Load (Financial Aid Load)

You can see these values on the Current Classes and Academics History tabs.

Institutional Load

Institutional Load represents the total number of academic credits (units) for which the student is registered on that academic record. Students with more than one active academic record, such as those in dual degree programs, may see different institutional load values on each record depending on their registration. 

FA Load

FA Load represents the financial aid value of the courses for which the student is registered, totaled across all active academic records. Some courses may not award academic credits but are considered to have financial aid load, such as certain doctoral research courses or study abroad placeholder courses.

FA Load is used in reporting to the federal government (for aid eligibility, visa requirement compliance, etc.) and eligibility for services at WashU (unless a student is approved for a reduced course load by Disability Resources).

If a student’s FA load changes, it will update overnight, while institutional load updates immediately.

Audited courses are not included in either load value.

Many students’ institutional and FA load values will be the same, reflecting those with one active academic record and taking courses worth academic credits that match their financial aid value. Differences will appear for students taking courses whose financial aid value is more than the credits they offer. For example, a graduate research study course may not earn academic credit but carries financial aid value. The FA Load for a student taking this course may be “full-time” while their Institutional Load is “less than half time.”